Economic Impact of Replacing Concentrate Mixture with Moringa oleifera and Chaya (Cnidoscolus aconitifolius) Based Pellets in the Diet of Lactating Barbari Goats

Abstract

Aims: The study aims to evaluate the economic impact of replacing part of the concentrate mixture with Moringa oleifera and Chaya (Cnidoscolus aconitifolius) leaf-based pellets, alone and in combination, on feed cost, net return, and the benefit-cost ratio in lactating Barbari goats using partial budget analysis. Study Design: A four-group comparative feeding trial comprising one control group and three pellet-supplemented treatment groups in which part of the concentrate mixture was replaced with pellets. Place and Duration of Study: Livestock Research Centre, ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute (NDRI), Karnal, Haryana, India, from May to August. Methodology: Twenty-four healthy, adult, lactating Barbari goats, balanced for dry matter intake (DMI), body weight, and parity, were divided into four groups of six animals each. The control group (T0) received a standard diet of roughage and concentrate (60:40), whereas the three treatment groups received the same basal diet, with part of the concentrate replaced by Moringa-based (T1), Chaya-based (T2), or combined Moringa-Chaya (T3) pellets at an inclusion level of 8%. DMI and milk yield were recorded over a 90-day lactation period, and partial budget analysis was used to calculate feed cost, income from milk sales, and the benefit-cost ratio for each group. Results: Milk yield was numerically higher in all pellet-fed groups than in the control, although the differences were not statistically significant. All three treatment groups had lower feed costs and higher net returns than the control. The combined Moringa-Chaya group (T3) had the lowest feed cost (INR 26.47/kg goat/day), the highest milk yield (0.59 kg/day), the highest net return (INR 10.11/goat/day), and the best benefit-cost ratio (1.39), compared with INR 28.60/kg goat/day, 0.53 kg/day, INR 4.26/goat/day, and 1.15, respectively, for the control (T0). Conclusion: Replacing part of the concentrate mixture with Moringa oleifera and Chaya leaf-based pellets, particularly in combination, may be a cost-effective strategy for improving the profitability of small-scale goat farming while enabling productive use of locally available, environmentally sustainable feed resources. Confirmation through larger, longer-term studies with complete nutrient-composition and statistical data is recommended before widespread adoption.